Dilator



p 24, 9 w. J. KIRK ET AL DILATOR Filed Nov. 14, 1927 gwvantocs %&

61am 's .Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. KIRK, OF WELLSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, AND ROY H. BROWNLEE AND WILLIAM H. COBURN, I OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE ELECTED THERMAL COMPANY, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OI OHIO DILATOR Application filed November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233,032.

Our invention refers to. improvements in rectal applicators or dilators, and to the means for generating a sustained heat therefor. In devices of the same general kind, utilizing various heating mediums, they are at to be more or lessunsatisfactory due to either too little or too great heat'or to a limited time of heatcontinuance, and other known objections.

Thusfwhen an applicator or dilator is filled with hot liquid, incapable of increase and therefore entirely safe against undue heating, the continued maintenance of heat is limited as to time, and with a tendency of the user to fill the applicator or dilator with liquid of too high temperature, with resulting risk.

There have also been used various heat generating mediums in the form of capsules, adapted for immersion in water or other liquid for chemical re-action and resulting heat generation. These have not entirely filled all of the requirements of such devices as to safety and adequate and sustained temperature for a sufficient period of time suitable for satisfactory and beneficial treatment. Such heat generation is disclosed in prior patent of Homan #1,551,499.,

Our invention has in view to improve the construction of the dilator orapplicator in its mechanical form and adaptation to use,

and also to improve the means for generating heat within its body portion, together with various other features of utility and advantage,'as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings showing one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an applicator or dilator embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the measuring closing cap therefor in inverted liquid-containing position;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of one of the chemical-containing capsules or cartridges for use therewith.

Referring to the drawings, the body portion of the dilator comprises a hollow shell prov ding the interior chamber 2, the terminal 3 and the outer enlarged end or head 4.

The cavity or hollow interior of the dilator is normally closed by a removable plug or stopper 5 having threaded engagement. as ind cated at 6. The head 5 is provided with an inner cup extension 7, capable of holding a predetermined amount of suitable fluid, as water, 1n its cavity 8, as clearly shownin Fig. 2.

The active chemical re-agent is prepared as a capsule or cartridge 9, in any suitable shape but preferably in the form of a bag or cartridge made of fabric or other suitable material, readily permeable by fluid and adapted to be freely inserted within the dilator and capable of easy removal after each operation. 7

The combined plug and cup is preferably provided with a small vent opening, 10 through. its wall, for escape of any excess yapor pressure. The inner end of the cup is also provided with a packing 11 of felt or other suitable semi-porous material, sufliciently tight to prevent leakage. Vapor pressure in the interior may thus escape, if the internal pressure becomes excessive. v For the purpose of generating heat, upon admixture with a suitable liquid, as Water, we utilize a combination of magnesium (Mg) in powdered form, approximately 15 parts, and cuprous oxide (Cu O), approximately 85 parts. These are thoroughly mixed together, and to such mixture is added a definite proportion of coarse sand, or the like.

The purpose of the sand addition is to provide a supporting and separating body for the chemicals, making them readily pervious or permeable to water, or other liquid, and

at the same time to give a greater bulk to the mixture.

A further advantage in the sand admixture is that the temperature rise, when the chemicals are exposed to water, s eficctively regulated. Suitable proportions and amounts of the chemicals and sand respectively for use with water are in about the following proportions:

Total weight of powdered magnesium and cuprous oxide 5 grams Total weight of coarse sand 5 grams vTotal water used 2 cubic centimeters Mg+ H O MgO 2- If the water is in the form of steam the re-action takes place very rapidly; if in boiling water fairly rapidly, while with cold water the re-action is negligible.

If, however, a material capable of absorbing the nascent hydrogen as rapidly as it is formed is intimately mixed with the magnesium, the re-action even with cold water is so accelerated that the heat of the re-action raises the temperature of the mixture until in a proper mixture it rises to the boilin point, i. e. the point where water is 100 or higher with a smaller amount of water.

Such a material capable of absorbing the nascent hydrogen is cuprous oxide, Cu,O. \Vhen nascent hydrogen comes in contact with cuprous oxide a re-action occurs represented by the following equation:

Lead oxide acts in a similar manner to cuprous oxide but not as efficiently as Cu O. In place of the sand, we may use an equal amount of fullers earth or other suitable material as a diluent or holding body for the chemicals, with the same supporting, separating, and'absorbent effect.

Likewise, the proportions of'the chemicals may be varied within reasonable limits, with a proportional change in the rate of absorption of nascent hydrogen, when the water is deposited withln the dilator and the cartridge 9 is immersed.

Thus, the proportions of Mg may vary cuprous oxide.-

from five to twenty parts and of Cu,() from ninety-five to eighty parts, in a Whole of one hundred parts, with corresponding variation in the rate of absorption, as desired. We have found that good results may be secured by maintaining the proportions between the chemicals as a whole and the supporting bodyof sand or fullers earth, or their equivalent, at approximately equal parts for best results. The heat generated within the dilator may thus be quite accurately regulated so as not to exceedv a definite maximum.

The heat will also be maintained with very gradual diminution for a considerable time,

amply long for one application, after which the exhausted cartridge may be emptied from the casing.

The dilator itself may be made of any suitable substance or material, as hard rubber, metal, etc., and in suitably convenient size, design or proportions within the usual limits of such articles, or permissible variations to suit requirements of use.

What we claim is 1. A dilator consisting of a suitably shaped hollow body provided with a removable closing end, and-a hydrogen and oxygen absorbent unit containing magnesium and 2. A dilator consistin of a suitably shaped hollow body provi ed with a removable closing end, and a hydrogen and oxygen absorbent unit containing magnesium in? cuprous oxide and a granular investing 3. A dilator consisting of a tubular hollow body provided with a removable closing end, and a water absorbent unit composed of magnesium and cuprous oxide and a granular investing body.

4. A dilator consisting of a tubular hollow body provided with a removable closing end, and a water absorbent unit composed of a minor portion of magnesium and a major portion of cuprous oxide, and a. granular investing body.

5. A dilator consisting of a tubular hollow body provided with a removable closing end, and a liquid absorbent unit composed of a minor portion of magnesium and a major portion of cuprous oxide, and a granular investing body, with an associated liquid.

6. A dilator consisting of a tubular hol- I low body provided with a removahle closing end, and a liquid absorbent cartridge .composed of a minor portion of magnesium and a major portion ofjcuprous oxide, and a granular investing body, with a substantially less volume of associated liquid.

7. The combination with a hollow transversely round body member having an exdesigned to effect orificial dilation, a substance within said hollow body having the terior form of gradually increasing diameter property of generating heat when moistened with fluid, and a removable plug at the larger end of said body having an inwardly extending fluid measuring cup.

8. The combination with a hollow transversely round body member having an exterior form of gradually increasing diameter designed to effect orificial dilation, a car; tridge within the hollow body containing a substance having the property of generating heat when moistened with water, and a removable plug at the larger end of said body having an inwardly extending water measuring cup of a ca acity substantially less than the volume 0 the. capsule.

9. In combination with a hollow tubular body, a cartridge for re-action with water within said body consisting of a holding shell of permeable material filled with powdered magnesium and cuprous oxide and an investing body of sand or the like.

10. In combination with a. hollow tubular body, a cartrid e for re-act-ion with water within said bo y consisting of a holding shell of permeable material filled with powdered ma nesium and cuprous oxide and an investin ody of sand or the like thoroughly mixed therewith'and composing substantially one-half of the mixture. I

11. In combination with a hollow tubular body, a cartridge for re-action with water within said bod consistiri of a holding shell of permeab e material %lled with wdered magnesium approximatel fi een parts, cuprous oxide approximateFy ei h five parts, and sand approximately one undred parts by volume.

In testimony whereof we hereunto alfix our signatures.

WILLIAM J. KIRK.

ROY H. BROWNLEE.

WILLIAM HYCOBURN. I

ty- J 

